CHAPTER 2

Ginny could not move, and she hated it. When she fell her wand was still in her hand, but as she had never given non-verbal spells much practice it was practically useless. Nonetheless she tried screaming "finite incantetem" in her head until it gave her a throbbing headache.

Then just before the Death Eaters Apparated, Dolohov wrenched her wand away roughly and pocketed it. Then Rowle picked her up gingerly, grumbling, "why is it me every time when there's somethin' heavy?" And when they Apparated away, Ginny had already given up. She would save her energy for later.

When they arrived at Malfoy Manor, the first person she saw was Bellatrix, and the sight of her filled Ginny with fear and anger - she was the one who killed Sirius.

"This is going quite well actually," Ginny thought. "When I left I had no idea where I would be going... but now I'm right in the lion's den. I should count myself lucky."

"Kill them all," a dark voice in her head said. "Kill them... they all deserve to die..." Ginny tried to push that little voice away. That evil voice had been in her head ever since Tom Riddle possessed her in her first year. Even though now he was gone, she felt that a little part of him remained, every now and then popping up to urge her to do something evil. But deep down, she knew she wanted to kill them. This made things slightly more complicated.

"What did you bring HER in for?" Bellatrix hissed. "This is a Weasley..."

"This is Potter's girlfriend, Bellatrix," replied Travers. "We-"

"Is she now?"

"Do you think I'm lying?"

"We'll see, won't we? DRACO! COME OUT HERE AT ONCE!"

"Don't you dare order my son around..." that was Narcissa Malfoy's voice.

"I'll order anyone I want around, the Dark Lord-"

"This is MY house Bellatrix, and the Dark Lord does NOT favor you anymore, not after-"

"Shut up," Bellatrix said dangerously. "Or I'll shut it for you..."

After what, Ginny wondered. What could have happened?

"What?" came Draco Malfoy's voice irritably.

"Draco, dear, who is this?" Bellatrix said sweetly, her voice dripping with honeyed venom. She kicked Ginny's stiff body and she rolled over so that Draco could see her face clearly. Ginny saw a startled look flit across his expressionless face for a split second. Then he composed himself and said coolly, "I don't know."

"Look closer Draco, is it Potter's girlfriend?"

"The Dark Lord wants Potter, not his pathetic excuse of a girlfriend!" Draco spat.

"Ohh so it IS her now isn't it?"

"Yes, Bellatrix, it's her, happy? What are you gonna do with her anyway?"

"The Dark Lord may not want Potter's girlfriend, Draco, but Potter certainly would..."

"Oh for Merlin's sake Bellatrix! This isn't funny!" Narcissa exploded. "What do you think you're doing? Don't tell me you're planning to-"

"Actually, Cissy, she'd make the perfect bait! Potter would do anything to save his darling blood traitor girlfriend!"

"I doubt it Bellatrix, no one knows where he is, how are you supposed to lure him in?" Narcissa was sounding extremely annoyed.

"Oh ,we'll think of something... in the meantime, Draco, lock her in the dungeon."

"I'm afraid the dungeon is not accessible at the time, Bellatrix," Draco said flatly. "Wormtail's body still wouldn't budge and he's blocking the entrance."

"Still? Haven't you done anything?"

"No; apparently he's rooted into the floor. Nothing I do moves him."

"Well then," Bellatrix replied, and a shiver went down Ginny's spine, she sounded so evil and insane, "she'd have to stay in your room then."

Draco was so stunned he could not move. Bellatrix could not be serious. Her? The Weasley girl? In HIS room? Ridiculous! But one look at Bellatrix told him she could not be more serious. He opened his mouth and closed it again, at a loss of what to say. Finally he swallowed and said, carefully removing all traces of expression from his face and voice, "There is a spare room next to mine. She will stay there."

"Fine," replied Bellatrix, a cruel smile twisting her lips.

"Where's her wand?" Draco asked suddenly.

"What?"

"Weasley's wand, where is it?"

"Here, Malfoy," said Dolohov, handing him the wand. Draco grabbed it, and as a strange warmth spread through him, he relaxed a little. The wand made him feel comfortable.

"What do you need it for?" asked Mother curiously.

Draco walked over to her and handed her her wand. "I don't like using your wand, Mother, not when you have none to use. Here's yours back; I'll use Weasley's." Mother smiled.

Turning back to Weasley's body on the floor, he pointed his new wand at her and said, "Locomotor body!" And with her floating in front of him, he exited the living room.

Once in the spare room, which he noted with satisfaction was clean from the house-elves' work, he laid Weasley's body down in the bed gently. After he closed the door, he said, "finite incantetem" and the Weasley girl all but collapsed.

She looked up at Draco before struggling to sit up, but she had been immobile for too long and she fell back down. Draco caught her and whispered, "careful."

She glared at him and pushed him away. "Don't you dare touch me, Malfoy!" she cried.

Draco was surprised and a little hurt at her response, he was just helping, although he supposed he could understand what she was feeling. "Fine, but don't bother to ask me for help in the future," he replied coolly.

"Don't worry, I won't," she replied just as coolly. She sat up slowly and gave Draco a meaningful glare, as if showing him she could sit up fine by herself, thank you very much.

Draco said curtly, "dinner's at seven. I will come in and being you your meal then. Oh, and one more thing," and he flicked his wand at the fireplace and orange flames kicked merrily at the logs, "accio floo powder." And a bag flew out from inside her robes. She grabbed at it but it slipped through her fingers. Draco smirked his familiar famous smirk and left.

Ginny was confused. Why did Malfoy help her when she fell? He had looked hurt when she snapped at him. Maybe she shouldn't have, not when he was just helping and not being his usual nasty self. But then again, why wasn't he being his usual nasty self? And he looked sick. She thought he would be at his prime at times like this. Didn't he always say a world with Voldemort ruling it was the best? He looked cool and composed back in that enormous room, but that mask seemed to have slipped for a few moments when he was alone with her.

And in those few moments... he looked miserable.

Ginny glanced around the room, looking for something, anything, that could get her out of there. The light green walls were bare except for a few paintings here and there, and the dark wooden floor seemed too solid to be a trapdoor. The ceiling was high, with a medium-sized crystal chandelier that sparkled prettily. Ginny thought that might have come in useful except for the fact that it was too high for her to reach. The window was very sturdy. She knew because she had pounded her fist on it.

There was nothing that could help her. She could not believe how Malfoy knew she had a stash of Floo powder with her. And even though she DID have an extra bag in her trunk, it was useless. How could she possibly pick one minuscule bag out of a stuffed tiny trunk when she did not have a wand?

She sat down, defeated. She had set out for revenge, not to be kidnapped. The only thing she COULD do, she supposed, was to wait things out. Wait for an opportunity.